Vacuum cleaning apparatus



F1591 10 $2 I M May115, 1923. 1,455,116 I v F. E: LUMLEY VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug 18. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E luUevUtM ff. 1E. 511111111111 1.

May 15; 1923.

'F. E. LUMLEY VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 auvemtoz rai'ear'a i, 193.

insane t me caries.

valet-pin or.

arraaarus."

Application filed August 18, 1921. serial accesses.

is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaning apparatus and has for an object to'provide an improved compensating release valve in conjunction with the suction producing device which is hand of the operator, and for about to various points wherever the action a adapted to open to the atmosphere whenever the suction or pressure vacuum in the system exceeds a predetermined maum.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an improved suction nozzle with a normally closed valve and improved means for openi and regulating the valve while the nozzle is held convenientl in the irection of cleaning by the device is to be performed.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an improved trap placed in the system to catch articles which except to do mjury to the dust collecting bags or other parts, and in so arranging the traps as to provide convenient access thereto, while locating them out of sight in walls or partitions, and in furthermore providing traps with screens that -are removable through the walls or partitions, but which are normally enclosed byv air tight caps operable also from the exterior of the walls or partitions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully deand will be more par scribed hereinafter,

ticularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto- Inthe drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a building shown equip ed with an improved. apparatus, constructe according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the compensating release valve; 4

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the valve P r; 1

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged'view of the suction nozzle and appurtenant parts, illustrated on an enlarged-scale, and with portions in section; v

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-45 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of a screen employed;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an improved trap with the caps open;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the caps closed;

. Fig. 10 is a top plan view. of the device shown in Fig. 9; and, Fig: 11 is a plan view of the screen shown in Fig. 7.

Re erring more particularly to the draw ings, 12 designates the first living floor of a building, such as an apartment house, and 13 the basement [in which the suction producing apparatus 14 is located, such apparatus being driven, for instance, by an electric motor 15 ascontrolled by a switch 16.

The suction producing ap aratus 14 may be of any suitable type, such or instance as a reciprocating pump of a double acting va riety having the intake pipes 17 and 18 so connected at res ctively opposite ends of the pump cylind di 19. A conduit 20 connects the pipes 17 and 18 with a vacuum receiver 21.] A compensating release valve 22 is disposed at a convenient conduit 20 for the pmpose oi supplying additional air from the atmosphere to the suction apparatus whenever the latter operates beyond a predetermined maximum. This device 22 is more (p in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 an ferred to.

The vacuum receiver 21 communicated. by pipe 23 and branches 242.116. 25 thereof will be later reoint in the as articularly shown with containers 26 and 27 for the bags 28 and 29 of cheese cloth or the like porous material. 31 are located in the branches 24 and 25 to Hand controlled valves 30 and cut out either container. The tops of the containers are closed'b cover' plates 32 secured tightly thereon y the hinged bolts or nuts 33. The mouths of the bags 28 and 29 are reoeived'about upper branch pipes 34 and 35 which connect with the p1 e 36 running through the various walls an par- The upper branch pipe 34 and 35 also have no 1 manually controlled valves 40 and 41 and and 4, the cylinder 22 of the compensating that coincide with the flange 48.

' inder 22. A plunger 47 is release valve is provided with threads at its lower end to screw into a suitable opening made in the 'conduit -20, for instance at the location shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the cylinder 22 aninternal shoulder is made and above the shoulder an extension cylinder 46 of a reduced diameter projects in axial alignment with the lower larger cylmounted to slide vertically in the upper extension cylinder and is provided with a flange 48 operated within the lower cylinder and having a compressible gasket-49 attached in the upper portion'of the plunger to seat air tightly against the shoulder 45. The upper end of the extension cylinder 46 is open to the atmosphere and a number of flutes 50 are made in the side walls of the plunger 47-to admit air downwardly into the. lower cylinder 22, the flange 48 being f inferior diameter as compared to'the diameter of said lower cylinder. The flutes 50 preferably taper downwardly from larger upper portions to a exes onsequently as the plunger 47 descends to a greater and cater extent, the wide port areas of the utes are exposed and as a result a greater amount of air may be drawn 1n. The plunger 47 is held on a rod 51 which is screw threaded at its lower end centrally into the plunger and carries atits upper end a cross bar 52 guided for particular movement ina rectangular yoke 53 preferably made frpm wire. A coil spring 54 is wound about the rod 51 and engages the lower end of the yoke 53 and the under side of the sliding bar 52- Athreaded sup orting spindle 55 -supportsthe yoke 53 or a vertically adjustable movement, the spindle having a winged nut 56 thereon which rests upon an U-shaped supporting bail 57 riveted or otherwise securedat its opposite ends to diametrically opposite points on the exten-. sion cylinder 46, as indicated at 58.

Referring more 6,-the suction nozzle 39'is' substantially bail shaped having a retracted end portion 59 threaded into a socket 60" provided upon the forward end of the handle 61 which 15 made hollow and attached to the hose 38 as by a clamp ring. 62. In the handle is a' partitionwall 63 having'a' transverse cavity 64in particularly to Figs. 5 andmeans which is mounted for a vertically reciprocating movement a valve plate 65. A perforation 66 in the valve plate isadapted to register with aligned ports 67 and 68 in the opposite side portions of "the partition wall. A coil spring 69 urges the valve plate in one direction to hold the perforation 66 normally out of registry withthe ports. A thumb button 70 is carried upon a stem 1 which connects interiorly with the valve plate in order that the latter may be shifted transversely to cause alignment'of the ports and perforations 66. 'A cap 72 surrounds the stem 71 and houses a packing 7 3 to prevent leakage at this point. The cap 72 engages about lugs 74 on the handle. is confined by'a cap piece 7 5 which is screw threaded upon a threaded boss 76 on the handle and an air joint is made by a rubber or other gasket 77 within the cap. A curved fin er piece 78 is carried by the cap 75.

eference is now more particularly had to- The spring 69 indicated in Fig. 8, the cap pieces 80 and 81 may be swung out of axial alignment with the trunk portion 44 to admit .the screen shown in Figs. 7and 11. The cap iece 8 0 is pivotally carried by a bail 82 w ile the lower cap iece 81 is carried by a similar bail 83. he two bails are connected by lever 84having a handle 85 adapted to project on the exterior of the walls. By swinging the caps 80 and 81 may be closed. A COIlspring 86 is associated with the lower cap piece 81 and is provided with a nut tension 87. This spring permits of the l'ever84 being swung down further from the position shown in Fig. 9, until the lever extends substantially arallel with the axis of the main trunk 44.

n such condition the spring 86 is under considerable tension and holds the cappieces 80 and 81 tightly closed to avoid the entrance of aim thesystem. In this position of the lever 84, a toggle lock is formed which will hold the lever and the cap pieces'from accidentallyopening.

. The screen 88 employed is preferably car-- ried by up r and lower wings 89 and 90 held space apart by a standard 91. The

lever down as shown in Fig. 9, the

closing theswitch 16. The suction apparatus M is thus driven by the motor and it rapidly causes a pressure vacuum to be built up in the receiver 21. This suction is felt throughout the piping 36 and whenever any of the occupants of the'apartments desire to efiect a cleaning of their establishments, it

involves merely the simple operation of re- As soon as the port 66 of this valve aligns with the ports 65 and 68, the suction is felt and it draws in alldust and foreign matter from the articles cleaned.

jects and objects of a large size will be rejected in the nozzle 39 because of the small character of the ports. However pins, needles and other small hard objects it taken into the bags and 1 amp apparatus are apt to injure the system. These objects are caught in the trap 44 by the screen 88 and may be' subsequently removed when the screen is withdrawn for cleaning.

Both bags 28 and 29 may be simultaneously used if desired, but the position of the valves 30, 31 and 40, 44 enables either of the bags to be cut out of operation. This is desirable When one of the bags, having become fully charged to capacity, is removed for dumping. The operation of the system need therefore not be suspended, but may bekept continuously in working order. s

Should the vacuum build up too rapidly, the increased suction will move the release valve plunger'downwardly from its closed position in opposition to the spring 54 and will let a quantity of air enter the system tionately to the suction demands. A. regulation of the winged nut 56 will control the time of opening of this release valve or the conditions under which it will open.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing .thatI have provided an improved form of Most heavy ob proporrelief valve, suction nozzle and tap and that the arrangement anddisposition of the various parts of the apparatus allow it to be used continuously without any suspension in operation and in a normal working condition at a uniform suction rate.-

I do not wish to be restricted to the size, form, and proportions of the various parts, and obviously changes could be made in the construction herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being only necessary that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A suction device comprising a tubular handle being of difl'erential diameter, the portion being of the smaller diameter being hollow and adapted to be connected to a hose, the portion of larger diameter having a thick partition Wall therein extending substantially from the adjacent end of the portion of smaller diameter and extending a major portion of the length of the portion of greater diameter, said portion of greater diameter having a socket in its outer end, a nozzle removably secured in said socket, said partition having a relatively narrow opening passing axially therethrough, the end wall of the partition adjacent the portion of smaller diameter being curved to said opening, said partition also having a transverse channel intersecting the opening centrally, a reciproeating valve plug mounted in said channel and having a tapering opening adapted to register with the opening in the two sides of the partition, the outer end of the flaring. openin facing toward the nozzle, means for yieldab y holding the valve plug with its opening out of registry with the partition opening, and means attached to the valve plug and projecting on the exterior of the handle for moving said valve plate to cause registry of the openings.

In testimony whereof, I have aifixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. S'roncns,

' A. Srmzens.- 

